{"id":674,"date":"2012-01-07T20:00:30","date_gmt":"2012-01-07T20:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=674"},"modified":"2015-10-13T15:22:54","modified_gmt":"2015-10-13T15:22:54","slug":"marxcetera-arena-theatre-houston-tx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2012\/01\/07\/marxcetera-arena-theatre-houston-tx\/","title":{"rendered":"Marx\/Cetera – Arena Theatre – Houston, TX"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by David Clements <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jan 07, 2012 at 12:00 AM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Image\"Happy New Year to all my Houston Music Review followers.\u00a0 This next year promises to be another great one full of many great performances in our area so stay tuned.<\/p>\n

Last evening got things started off with a bang.\u00a0 The Arena Theatre was host to Richard Marx and Peter Cetera.\u00a0 Sadly, too few fans were in attendance.\u00a0 This venue holds 2800 and there were over 2000 empty seats.<\/p>\n

The first performer, Richard Marx, took the stage and his energy was immediately felt.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I thought he would be okay,\u00a0 but Wow!\u00a0 He stole the show before the night\u2019s second performer, Peter Cetera, even got up to bat.\u00a0 Marx was personable, very engaging and still has those strong vocals.\u00a0 He strapped on his acoustic guitar and put himself right out there.\u00a0 He is small in stature but commanded the audience\u2019s attention in a decidedly larger than life way..<\/p>\n

At nearly every concert there is always some idiot in the audience calling for \u2018Free Bird\u2019 and this was no exception.\u00a0 Marx, however, put him right in his place.\u00a0 Add that to his beautiful songs and he won me over.\u00a0 As for my wife, who was sitting next to me,\u00a0 she was obviously hooked from the moment he walked on to the stage.\u00a0 It appeared at times that she might have forgotten I was sitting next to her.\u00a0 And it seemed every other guy\u00a0 I could see was experiencing the same thing.\u00a0 Sheesh!<\/p>\n

There is no missing that Richard Marx is a hit with the ladies.\u00a0 In fact, as he launched into some of his signature songs like Right Here Waiting, Hold Onto the Night, and Now and Forever, he joked that these \u2018pussy songs\u2019 had afforded him the home and lifestyle he and his family now enjoy!<\/p>\n

\"Image\"My sense is that Marx is a terrific \u2018family man\u2019.\u00a0 His wife, Cynthia Rhodes was a dancer\/ actress in the 80\u2019s featured in the films\u00a0 Dirty Dancing and Staying Alive, among others.\u00a0 Her job for the last several years has been raising their 3 sons, now in their late teens and early 20\u2019s.\u00a0 All three sons are talented musicians and were showcased in a video that Marx played along to live.\u00a0 One son was featured playing solo piano, another on drums, and the third on guitar.\u00a0 This was a very well done and unique presentation and served to show us another facet of this very entertaining performer.<\/p>\n

The bar was set high for Peter Cetera, the night\u2019s second and final performer.\u00a0 And the deck is always somewhat stacked against him as he strives to highlight his solo success and separate himself from his fame as THE original voice of the iconic group Chicago.\u00a0 Adding to that, Cetera was very slow, too slow, to take the stage after the break.\u00a0 That said, once Peter Cetera and his 7 piece band came on to the rotating Arena stage, it was clear we would not be disappointed.\u00a0 Cetera\u2019s smooth, distinctive voice launched into classic solo hits like Glory of Love,\u00a0 After All, Endless Summer Nights and You\u2019re the Inspiration.<\/p>\n

There is an almost 20 year age difference between these two performers and that became evident while watching Cetera go through his set.\u00a0 He gave a mature, highly polished performance.\u00a0 He knows how to strut and posture for the fans.\u00a0 Marx by contrast comes across as a more natural, seemingly effortless performer.<\/p>\n

And so we enjoyed a night of familiar and favorite hits by two talented, diverse, and gracious musicians.\u00a0 What more could we ask for?\u00a0 A few more fellow audience members perhaps but those in attendance saw a first rate show.\u00a0 Yes, 2012 is off and running on a beautiful note!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by David Clements Jan 07, 2012 at 12:00 AM Happy New Year to all my Houston Music Review followers.\u00a0 This next year promises to be another great one full of many great performances in our area so stay tuned. Last evening got things started off with a bang.\u00a0 The Arena Theatre was host to… <\/p>\n

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